Library Assistant II: Readers Services – Rochester Public Library

Rochester Public Library (MN) seeks a creative, organized, and enthusiastic Library Assistant II who has an eye for detail, loves to collaborate, has a passion for public services, and enjoys working with youth. The successful candidate will possess exceptional customer service skills, a willingness to learn from failure, and a keen interest in collaborating and brainstorming with colleagues on a regular basis.

Responsibilities of this position include providing exceptional customer service at the Fiction, Movies & Music Desk, video-recording programs as assigned, collaborating with programming staff to present engaging and creative programs, back-up support for bookmobile and outreach services, collection maintenance activities, and other duties as assigned.

Readers Services connects individuals to books, media, ideas, creative activities and each other. The division is responsible for developing and maintaining a rich and diverse collection of fiction, feature films, recorded music, and digital materials. Our collaborative staff provides exceptional customer services to people whether in the library, on the bookmobile or out in the community. They take pride in providing adults with cultural, creative, and educational programs that allow them to spark their imagination and engage with the community.

RPL, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is a very busy downtown library and bookmobile (Over 500,000 visits per year, over 1.8 million physical and digital items checked out and the busiest bookmobile in the state of Minnesota). RPL serves the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, and visitors from all over the world.

We strengthen community and enrich lives by sparking
imagination, creativity, engagement, and learning.

Nature of Work
Library Assistant II is an advanced clerical position. Duties of this position may include, but are not limited to working at public desks assisting library customers and maintaining public safety and security, overseeing and directing the work of clerical employees and volunteers, serving on library-wide committees, assisting with planning and presenting library programs, acquisition tasks including the ordering and receipt of all formats acquired by the library. Other responsibilities may include setting up and operating audio-visual equipment, working directly with vendors to solve problems, and leading the Rochester Reading Champions program. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Division Head and may include assisting or serving as a temporary backup for other Library positions as needed.

Distinguishing Characteristics
This position does require evening and weekend work.

Applications will be accepted until the vacancy is filled with priority consideration for applications submitted by February 15, 2018.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The work below is representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification. Individual job duties will vary based on work assignment.

Provide Direct Service to the Public
• Meet or exceed the library’s customer service standards in all interactions with the public and staff.
• Provide basic reference and readers advisory services to the public in person and via telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, and other means of communication.
• Provide support to patrons using library collections, equipment, and services including digital collections.
• Respond to questions regarding the status of library accounts, interlibrary loan requests, and item renewals.
• Place interlibrary loan requests, enter reserves, and create bookings for patrons on automated library systems.
• Provide direct customer service at a Public Service desk.
• Maintain public safety and security by enforcing the library’s code of conduct.
• Create and maintain book and other displays.

Materials Handling, Maintenance, and Processing
• Process materials in all formats and collections; verify and correct library material item information.
• Maintain the mending workflow of books; repair returned audiovisual and print items as needed.
• Manage and perform materials handling tasks including sorting, discharging and routing materials to various locations within the library to ensure efficient flow of library materials.

Clerical
• Perform data entry and records maintenance.
• Maintain program promotion and materials supplies such as tax forms, office supplies, booklists, informational flyers and other items.
• Keep statistical records.
• Prepare invoices for lost materials.
• Update information on library wiki as assigned.
• Create and maintain databases.
• Compile and create orders for all formats based on requests from selectors. Use of cataloging databases, vendor databases, and publisher databases is needed. Create bibliographic records necessary for the ordering process.
• Order a large proportion of items from major library vendors using a systematic and efficient process. As needed, order items from any appropriate vendor, publisher, and producer/distributor. • Investigate and maintain relationships with sources that supply hard to locate or specialty items.
• Receive and invoice items, including checking all items and resolving problems.
• Send invoices to the business office; maintain accurate files of invoices paid, items received, and materials to be returned. Any staff member in the Library Assistant II–Acquisitions category may be assigned responsibility for bookkeeping of one or more formats.
• Maintain standing orders including ordering, invoicing, and transferring and discarding older editions.
• Complete acquisitions work including “first searching” (pre-searching of commercially available items for the selectors), identifying, and matching items to monographic and serials records, adding and discarding as necessary, and working with donated materials.

Programming and Training
• Assist Library Teammates with planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation of programs, outreach activities, and displays.
• Lead programming activities under indirect supervision.
• Set-up, take down, and clean up after programs as assigned.
• Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
• Record programs to be live streamed and archived.

Leading and Directing
• Assist with scheduling, motivating, leading, directing, and training clerical employees and volunteers.
• May help with screening applications prior to hire and/or providing feedback post hire for individuals working in limited appointment positions.
• Serve as computer liaison and trainer including working with the Library’s Computer Center to set up, maintain, and troubleshoot automation and audio-visual systems.
• Work with library vendors to solve problems.
• Rochester Reading Champions:
– Work with partner agencies to recruit volunteers.
– Arrange training, develop schedules for, and track volunteers using Volgistics software.
– Assess efficacy of the program.

Miscellaneous
• Serve on library wide and divisional committees.
• Work with established partners to plan library sponsored programs and activities.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent and two years of general work experience

Desirable Qualifications:
Post-secondary education.
One year of experience in any of the following areas:
• Providing customer service to the public
• Working in a public library
• Collaborating with volunteers
• Providing training to others
• Functioning as a team lead or supervisor
• Using automated library catalogs, library operations, and policies.

Reference Division Only:
One year experience with the Orton Gillingham approach to include both using the method and providing training to others.

Skill in: the proficient operation of computer programs including Microsoft Office Publisher, Word, and Excel; using office equipment; organization, time management and attention to detail; and providing customer service in a busy and diverse environment.

Ability to: meet City of Rochester’s customer service standards and Rochester Public Library’s core values; sustain accuracy and work steadily; to organize and carry through assigned tasks without direct supervision; use a computer keyboard with reasonable speed and high accuracy; communicate effectively; work pleasantly and effectively with coworkers and public through various mediums; maintain composure in stressful situations; effectively train, lead and direct work of part-time employees and volunteers; follow written and verbal instructions; and file and organize alphabetically and numerically.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Work assignments in the Bookmobile are best described as Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below: